Improvement in butter-firkins



A. POPE. BUTTER FIRKIN'S.

No. 193,549. Patented. July 24,1877.

MPEIERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C

ATE T DFFICE.

ANTHONY POPE, OF ALLEGHENY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO WILLIAM M. MGKELVY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTER-FIRKINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,549, dated July 24, 1877 application filed June 29, 1877 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANTHONY POPE, of Allegheny city, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Firkins, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of casks or firkins for butter and other like articles, its object being to provide a cheap and efficient means for clamping the covers thereon, and securing the same in place.

My invention consists in the combination with the cover of a butter-firkin, or. other similar vessel, and with the handles thereof, of a cross-bar adapted to be secured in openings in the said handles, and provided with means for clamping the cover upon its seat and permit its removal, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a firkin illustrating my invention. Fig. 2, a sectional view thereof, and Fig. 3 a view of a modified form of the cross-bar.

The letter A represents a butter-firkin of ordinary construction, and B B the two projectin g staves forming the handles thereof, and which are provided with openings b b for the ends of the crossbar by which the cover is secured.

0 represents the lid of the vessel made to fit tightly on the top of the same, and provided with recesses 0 c on its opposite sides, which fit around the staves B B when the lid is in place.

The letter D represents a cross-bar, which extends across the cover when in place, and is provided with beveled or wedge-shaped ends, one of which is provided with shoulders d d, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The letter E represents a screw setting through a longitudinal slot, F, in the crossbar, for the purpose of securing the.latter to the cover when the two are in place, the crossbar being capable of a longitudinal movement upouthe screw to allow it to be readily removed and inserted in the apertures in the handles.

In the modification represented in Fig. 3, the beveled end of the cross-bar is dispensed .with, and the clamping is effected by-means of an eccentric lever, G, which bears against the cover when down, securing the cross-bar in position against shifting, and at the same time clamping the cover in position on the firkin or vessel, the lever-being elevated when it is desired-to remove the cross-bar to open the vessel.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connection with the above description. The lid is placed upon the firkin, and the plain end of the crossbar insorted inthe opening in one of the projecting staves B, and pushed forward until the other end clears the opposite stave and falls opposite the aperture therein. The cross-bar is then pushed into the said aperture until stopped by the shoulders 01 d, after which it is secured by screwing up the screw E, thus firmly fastening the cover to the vessel, the beveled or wedge-shaped end of the bar clamping the cover down upon its seat, forming an air-tight joint, 7

The advantage of my invention consists in its extreme simplicity, and the readiness with which it can be applied to an ordinary butter or other firkin without materially altering the same, and at comparatively little cost.

The edge of the firkin, or the lid thereof, may be provided with a gasket of rubber, or other suitable packing material, which will eflectually seal the firkin when the top is clamped in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is In combination with a butter-firkin and the cover thereof, a cross-bar adapted to be secured in openings on opposite sides of said tub, said bar being provided with alongitudinal slot, within which is located a clamping device, whereby the bar may be held in-position to secure the cover to the top of the tub and permit its removal, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in thepresence of the subscribing witnesses.

ANTHONY Porn. Witnesses:

' JOHN S. MARQUIS, J. E. MOKELVY, 

